Joe Pelton Battles Poker Pros to Win $1.5 Million

Monday, 4 September 2006

Californian Joe Pelton beat former World Champion Scotty Nguyen to
take home the $1.5 million first prize at the World Poker Tour
Legends of Poker main event.
A relative unknown on the poker scene, Pelton was up against
stiff competition from p

Californian Joe Pelton beat former World Champion Scotty Nguyen to
take home the $1.5 million first prize at the World Poker Tour
Legends of Poker main event.
A relative unknown on the poker scene, Pelton was up against
stiff competition from poker professionals Scotty Nguyen, Hoyt
Corkins and Team Paradise Poker veteran Randy Holland.
The final hand saw Pelton heads up against Frankie O'Dell.
Pelton raised $400,000, O'Dell re-raised all-in and Pelton called.
O'Dell showed 6h 6d, Pelton showed Ac 7c, the board revealed Ad,
Jh, 3d, 2c, Qs. Pelton won the with a pair of aces, raking in
$1,577,170 and a $25,000 seat at the WPT Championship.
'Going into the final table I felt my chances were as good as
the other players,' said Pelton. 'I never felt in danger of losing
when I went all in, I was confident in my cards and was able to
keep my bluffing to a minimum.'
Pelton admits that his $1.5 million prize is a life-changing
amount of money, but plans to keep his day job and won't play any
more poker then he usually does. 'Poker is a fun way to pass time,
but I will not consider a career in playing,' he said.